Egypt Gives Military Arrest Powers to Protect Referendum

Anti-Mursi protesters sit outside their tents, below a flag that reads, "No, to Constitution" at Tahrir Square in Cairo December 10, 2012. The Egyptian government has given the military the authority to arrest civilians to help safeguard a constitutional

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Anti-Mursi protesters sit outside their tents, below a flag that reads, "No, to Constitution" at Tahrir Square in Cairo December 10, 2012. The Egyptian government has given the military the authority to arrest civilians to help safeguard a constitutional

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has given the military authority to arrest civilians as part of a decree to help maintain security for a Saturday constitutional referendum.

The order tasks the military with supporting police to protect "vital institutions."

Egypt's liberal opposition coalition has formally rejected the president's plan to hold the referendum on a new constitution largely shaped by Morsi's Islamist allies.

In a statement late Sunday, a National Salvation Front spokesman said the draft constitution does not properly represent the Egyptian people. He said going ahead with a referendum on the document will lead to more confrontation in the country.

The coalition has called for mass protests on Tuesday against the referendum. Some observers say the draft constitution has a good chance of being approved because Mr. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement has a superior ability to mobilize supporters to vote.

Many secular Egyptians fear the draft constitution will erode civil liberties because it boosts the role of Islamic law and makes no specific mention of women's rights. A constituent assembly dominated by Islamists approved the document last month after liberal and Christian members walked out, complaining that their voices were being ignored.

​Morsi made a concession to the opposition on Saturday by canceling parts of a November 22 decree that granted himself sweeping powers. Morsi made the announcement after a day of talks with other political figures. Most opposition groups boycotted the dialogue.

He also said that if the draft constitution is rejected in Saturday's referendum, he will call elections for a new constituent assembly to draft another charter that will be put to a popular vote.

An army soldier guards his tank in front the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 2012.

Children play around protest camp tents in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 2012.

Army tanks, left, deploy as Egyptian protesters gather outside the presidential palace during a demonstration against President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt, December 11, 2012.

The president also removed provisions of the previous decree that shielded all of his decisions from judicial review. Opposition groups had complained that the original measure gave the president dictatorial powers.

But, Morsi's Saturday decree said the courts remain barred from challenging his "constitutional declarations," including that latest one.

Prominent Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei sent out a tweet earlier Sunday, saying the fight against the constitution is about the "essence of the state, universal rights and values, and looking forwards, not backwards."

Egypt's military made its first public comment on the political crisis Saturday, urging both sides to resolve political differences through dialogue. It warned that continued confrontation risks plunging Egypt into a "dark tunnel leading to catastrophe" and vowed "not to allow" such an outcome.

Egyptian troops set up concrete barriers outside the presidential palace Sunday to prevent rival groups of liberals and Islamists from holding further rallies at the site. Street battles between the two sides have killed seven people in the capital in recent days.